Proceeded effortlessly

Once upon a time, there was a sailor named Jack who loved being out at sea. One day, he decided to take his boat out for a spin. As he set sail, he noticed that the wind was blowing in just the right direction, and the water was calm and serene.

Jack didn’t have to struggle with his boat’s sails or fight against rough waves. Instead, he simply relaxed and enjoyed the smooth ride, feeling like he was gliding effortlessly through the water.

Later, when Jack returned to shore, he was asked by his friend in the local paper, writing a crossword puzzle, how he got on while sailing out.

“Proceeded Effortlessly,” Jack replied.

And so, the answer to the clue became CRUISED, as Jack had experienced a pleasurable and easy journey on his boat that day.